Last Wednesday appearing before the United States Congressional Committee on Oversight, amid the heightened demand and the demonstrations for his resignation, New York City Mayor Eric Adams continued working with Donald Trump’s administration on the issue of mass deportation.
Fighting against the repeated efforts to disrupt his first term as mayor, Adams declared that he will not resign and during the congressional hearing on sanctuary cities, the mayor did not waiver, and advocates repeatedly questioned his ability and dedication to lead New York City and help the immigrants who need the city’s support.
The New York City immigration advocates declared that Mayor Eric Adams was unfit to lead New York City. Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), said in the recent hearing that the mayor is not defending the immigrants. “Even in this sham hearing, which was mostly an opportunity for extremist MAGA, Republicans to spew hate and distortions about immigration, the mayor’s ability to lead the city was repeatedly questioned,” he added.
“We did not expect to learn much from his spectacle and rarely got past the debate if he entered a quid pro quo, agreement with the Trump administration,” Awawdeh noted.
Representing another immigrant advocacy group in New York, Natalia Aristizabal of Make the Road Action, stated that Mayor Adams, comfort with the Trump administration agenda on mass deportation is testimony that he has failed the immigrant communities,
“During today’s hearing Mayor Adams – is in stark contrast with other mayors…while anti-immigrant politicians attacked immigrants, Mayor Adams seemed more than happy to amplify their falsehoods and scapegoat our immigrant neighbors,” Aristizabal added.
Aristizabal said it is important for New Yorkers to know that as a group, they are “pushing for New York, for all statewide law that would limit collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement) agency.” “We cannot trust local politicians who are betraying our communities,” she added.
Mayor Adams in his defense said he has complied with all the legal requirements and still managed the humanitarian crisis with care and compassion, while at the same time bringing down crime, adding that “comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue.”
The mayor said he was committed to collaborating with the federal officials – no matter who was the president. “We have to go after violent gangs and those who harm residents in our city,” Adams, expressed. “I look forward to sharing how New York City collaborates daily with our city, state and federal partners to keep our city safe,” he added.
However, Awawdeh said that “New York City under Mayor Adams is beholden to the demands of Donald Trump.” He told the group of advocates that, “…instead of showing leadership and going to bat for all New Yorkers, Adams once again stood up for himself.”
Awawdeh concluded that “we will not remain silent in the face of the threats posed by Eric Adams to immigrant New Yorkers.”
